NSW Gov’t To Platform Youth Voices With New Office Launched Today

New South Wales will today launch the first dedicated Office for Youth as part of the government’s effort to get young people directly involved in government decision making processes.

It’s the first time in more than a decade that young people have had a central point of engagement with the government, after the Liberal-National government trashed the youth portfolio in 2011.

Minister of Youth, Rose Jackson says that it is “imperative” that young people are active contributors to the decisions that shape their lives.

“Young people have been ignored for way too long. Former NSW Liberal/National Government’s have cut the youth portfolio entirely- we’re putting it back, front and centre where it belongs,” she said. 

“This new Office isn’t just a nameplate on a door- it’s a proper, central place where young people are heard, respected, and actually help steer the ship.”

The Office aims to platform the perspectives of young people across government policies and programs from the beginning of the process, and will span across urban and regional areas, online, and through community-based initiatives.

Young people are already leading their communities across issues like climate, mental health, housing, and more. The establishment of the Office for Youth recognises that work, integrating young people into government decision-making processes.

“Young people aren’t just the future, they’re here, now, shaping communities and tackling challenges head‑on,” said Milly Bannister, founder and CEO of mental health organisation ALLKIND.

“This initiative signals a genuine commitment to listening to and learning from the lived experiences of young people across New South Wales, and I’m proud to stand behind it.”

Most young people feel unheard by government representatives

The move follows the NSW Government’s 2024 Youth Summit Report, which found 76 per cent of young people feel as though the government isn’t listening to them.

Released today, the report engaged with more than 4,500 young people between the ages of 12-25, including those in regional areas though forums in Lismore, Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga, Armidale, Bathurst, and Bateman’s Bay.

A staggering 85 per cent of respondents said that although they voted in 2023, they still felt shut out of politics.

Cost of living was the issue young people were most concerned about, with 1 in 10 of the respondents reporting that they had experienced homelessness. Statistics from the ABS show youth aged 15 to 25 are twice as likely than the general population to require homelessness services.

Mental health was also a priority concern, with many young people bringing up waitlists and financial concerns as barriers to them getting the support and resources they need.

“We’re not here to tick boxes or run another round of pointless consultation. This is about real change,” Jackson said. 

“Young people told us what they want and we’re getting on with it.”